Rope tightener and strapping attachment for a mechanical cardboard baler

ABSTRACT

A cardboard baler compacts a bundle of material by drawing the cardboard upwardly towards a compacting bearing member supported by the frame of the baler. The baler is provided with a string, cord or rope tightening mechanism which relies on a hand-actuated ratchet-like mechanism to draw two portions of the rope towards each other so that the rope may be tied to secure a bundle of cardboard. The rope tightening mechanism is supported by the frame of the cardboard baler when it is in use.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.11/443,523 filed on May 31, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for strappingand bundling material such as cardboard with string, cord or rope. Inparticular, it addresses a rope tightening mechanism for use inconjunction with a cardboard baler used to compact cardboard before itis tied to the bundle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for strappingand bundling material such as cardboard with string, cord or rope thatincludes a rope tightening mechanism. More specifically, it relates toan alternative strapping attachment to that described in Canadian patentapplication No. 2,481,782, published Apr. 7, 2006, and corresponding USapplication 2007/0277684 published Dec. 6, 2007, both originating fromthe present inventor and both directed to an apparatus for bundling andcompressing cardboard.

Devices that allow motion, be it linear or rotary, in only onedirection, while actively preventing motion in the opposite direction,are very useful for a wide variety of applications. Such mechanisms,which may be referred to as “ratchet-like”, have been used in the pastfor separating parts or drawing parts together. An example of such amechanism based upon teeth engaged by a ratchet is shown in U.S. Pat.No. 3,705,581 to Drake. Alternately, more recent ratchet-type mechanismshave been based on the interactive canting plate one-way locking systemdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,929,253 issued Aug. 16, 2005, or U.S. Pat.No. 6,386,530 issued May 14, 2002, both issued to Marks, both directedto a bar clamp. All of such latter US prior art references by thirdparties are adopted herein by reference.

In these ratchet-based devices, a rod or bar moves in respect of atrigger handle mounted within a body through which the rod or barpasses. Such rod or bar can, on actuation of the ratchet mechanism,carry a component away from the handle as in the case of a caulking gun.Or actuation of the mechanism may draw a component towards the handle,as in the case of a compression bar clamp. In either case, a racketmechanism operates to produce the relative displacement betweencomponents and prevents a subsequent movement that will undo thedisplacement that has been achieved.

It would be desirable to provide a rope tightener for use in conjunctionwith a cardboard baler wherein the rope tightener operates on the basisof a ratchet mechanism and enables rope to be firmly fastened around abundle of cardboard, securing it tightly. This invention addresses suchan objective.

The invention in its general form will first be described, and then itsimplementation in terms of specific embodiments will be detailed withreference to the drawings following hereafter. These embodiments areintended to demonstrate the principle of the invention, and the mannerof its implementation. The invention in its broadest and more specificforms will then be described, and defined, in each of the individualclaims which conclude this Specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention in one aspect, a string, cord or ropetightening mechanism relies on a hand-actuated ratchet mechanism to drawtwo portions of a string, cord, rope, wire, plastic band or the like(hereafter “rope”) towards each other so that the rope may be tied tosecure a bundle. The tightening mechanism used to draw near the two endsof an enveloping rope is particularly adapted for securing a compactedbundle of materials such as cardboard which has previously beencompacted by a compaction apparatus.

The tightening mechanism of the invention operates on the basis ofdrawing one portion of a rope towards another portion of the rope andmaintaining the rope under tension while such portions of the rope aretied together, binding the bundle of material tightly. For this purpose,one portion or end of the rope is hooked, clamped or otherwise fastenedto an anchor point to restrain the rope, and another portion of the ropeis drawn towards the first portion by the rope tightening mechanism.Once tightening is completed, the two portions of the rope are joined asby a knot to secure the bundle. These anchor points are intended toengage the rope temporarily and allow detachment of the rope from thetightening mechanism once the ends or portions of the rope have beentied to each other.

The rope tightening mechanism of the invention is intended for use withbaling device for compacting an amount of material into a bundle. Such abaling device preferably includes:

a) a rack frame having a base end;

b) a compacting bearing member carried by the rack frame, preferably inthe form of a peripheral frame, but optionally in the form of a solidplate;

c) a movable compacting platform also preferably in the form of aperipheral frame, but optionally in the form of a solid plate, having anupper side dimensioned to receive and carry sheets of cardboard, andslideably connected to the rack frame for sliding within the rack frametowards the compacting bearing member; and

d) a winch carried by the rack frame and connected to the compactingplatform through a flexible linkage, the winch being positioned to windthe flexible linkage about an axle mounted therein in order to draw themovable compacting plane upwardly towards the compacting bearing member.

In the preferred baling device the compacting platform moves upwardlyalong an inclined rack plane while cardboard is being compacted. Thisplane of motion is preferably inclined from the vertical, extendingupwardly from the front side of the base end of the rack frame andinclined inwardly towards the winch carried within the rack frame.Preferably the rack plane is delimited by a pair of parallel guidemembers which carry the compacting platform. More preferably the pair ofparallel guide members are U-shaped channels in cross-section andembrace guide pins that extend outwardly from the compacting platform.

A further preferred configuration for the baling device is based upon arack frame that includes a pair of rearwardly positioned upright framemembers that extend from the bottom of the rack frame to connectrespectively with one of the compacting platform guide members at arespective upper apex. This forms an “A” frame in profile. The centralcross portion of the “A” is provided by a pair of lateral bracingmembers that extend respectively between one of the upright framemembers and an inclined guide member and then extend further outwardlyto provide portions of the bearing member or to provide support for thebearing member.

A spool of rope can be mounted within the rack frame to provide thenecessary length of rope for enveloping the cardboard and tightening bythe rope tightening mechanism. The rope tightening mechanism is coupledto the frame, positioned for drawing together the two portions of therope which will envelop a bundle of cardboard. For this purpose, therope tightening mechanism is preferably positioned so that it will bealigned for drawing rope across the outer surface of the material beingcompacted, at a location just adjacent to and outboard of the side ofthe bearing member and compacting platform, near where the cardboard ismost compacted.

In order to hold the rope portions, the rope tightening mechanismincludes first and second rope anchors for detachably engaging first andsecond portions of the rope. A first fixed rope anchor may be carried bythe rack frame or by a fixed portion of the ratchet mechanism which ispart of the rope tightener carried by the rack frame. A seconddisplaceable rope anchor is then carried by the ratchet mechanism. Theratchet mechanism is, of course, positioned for drawing the first andsecond anchors, with rope engaged thereto, towards each other in orderto tightened the rope about the bundle of material.

Optionally one of the anchors may have a slot formed therein, shaped toretain a knotted portion of the rope with a loop present beyond suchknotted portion of the rope. Preferably, this is an anchor which isfixed in respect to the rack frame. The other of the anchors may be inthe form of a releasable rope clamp, optionally but preferably carriedby the ratchet mechanism, to effect closing of the gap between the tworope portions.

A preferred form of releasable rope clamp operates on the basis of aneccentrically mounted cylinder with a rope-engaging cylindrical surfacepositioned adjacent to an anvil whereby a portion of the rope may bepositioned between the cylinder and the anvil and held in place byrotation of the cylinder until the rope is pinched between the cylinderand the anvil. Both the off-centered axle for rotation of the cylinderand the anvil surface are mounted in a rigid relationship to each otherto sustain this pinching action.

While the fixed anchor has been described as connected to the rack frameand the releasable anchor described as being displaceable by the ratchetmechanism, the locations of these preferred forms of anchors may bereversed.

Any form of ratchet mechanism which will cause one end of the rope toadvance towards the other may be used as the basis of the ropetightening mechanism. A preferred form of ratchet mechanism is basedupon a displaceable rod which can slide in respect of a body that isfixed to the rack frame. The rope anchor which is to be displaced isaffixed to this rod. Preferably this is a detachable rope anchor such asone based on the design of an eccentrically rotating cylinder asdescribed previously. When the rope tightening mechanism is mountedalong one of the pair of lateral bracing members, it is this rod whichis positioned adjacent to and outboard of the side of the bearing memberso as to align the rod across the outer surface of the material to becompacted.

The ratchet mechanism may be based on a toothed rod which is advanced bya reciprocating pawl, of the type as described in U.S. Pat. No.3,705,581 to Drake. A preferred form of ratchet mechanism comprises:

a) first and second wedge plates each mounted on the rod, each wedgeplate being dimensioned for sliding engagement along the rod whenoriented in a plane extending outwardly in a perpendicular direction tothe length of the rod, and being dimensioned for jamming engagement withthe rod when the respective wedge plate is canted at an angle from suchperpendicular direction and an attempt is made to move such wedge platewith respect to the rod in a direction that will increase its cantingangle, andb) a handgrip coupled to the rod and connected to effect engagement withthe rod through the first wedge plate.

On activation of the handgrip, the rod is advanced with respect to thehandgrip through the engagement effected by the first wedge plate; and,upon deactivation of the handgrip, the second wedge plate, which iscoupled to the rack frame, resists movement of the rod in the reversedirection. This is the direction that would cause an increase in theseparation between the rope ends. Spring elements may be employed tobias the wedge plate towards a jamming engagement and thereby initiatethe jamming effect.

Such a mechanism may then be employed to slide the rod with respect tothe handgrip which is mounted in a body coupled to the rack frame. Asindicated earlier, it is preferable for this coupling to place the rodalongside one portion of the bearing member, or alongside one of thelateral members that extend to form part of or supports the bearingmember. This allows the rope to be tightened in an alignment which isclose to its final alignment once the rope ends have been joinedtogether. In this way minimal slack will be created when the rope isremoved from the rope tightener.

While the handgrip can be positioned remotely from the “A” frame portionof the rack, it is preferable for the handgrip to be located at thelower end of the lateral member, adjacent to the “A” frame itself. Inthis location the handle is at a lower position and is easier toactivate. In this position, actuation of the handle can draw the rod,and the displaceable anchor mounted thereon, towards the handle and thefixed anchor. Or the rod can be advanced upwardly away from the handle,carrying the displaceable anchor with it and towards the fixed anchorwhich is then mounted remotely from the handle.

While the displaceable anchor is, in one configuration, to be carried bythe rod, the fixed anchor, as indicated previously, may be fastened toany component which is rigidly connected to the rack frame. Optionally,the fixed anchor may be fastened to the body of the handgrip, and mayeven be positioned so that it slidably embraces the rod. In this lattercase, the fixed anchor may be fastened to the bearing member or the sideof the protruding lateral member adjacent to or by means of attachmentto the groove.

It is also possible, if the rod is fixed to the rack frame, for thehandle to be displaceable, in which case the handle will carry thedisplaceable anchor.

While reference has been made to the presence of a rod, its function mayalso be effected by use of a bar or shaft, all of which are equivalent.

While the rope tightening mechanism of the invention may be usedindependently of a cardboard baling mechanism apparatus, it ispreferably used in conjunction with such apparatus. In particular, whenused in conjunction with a cardboard baler, and particularly themechanical cardboard baler described in Canadian patent application No.2,481,782, and corresponding US application 2007/0277684, hereafterdescribed in greater detail, the rope tightening mechanism is preferablysupported by the frame of the cardboard baler when it is in use. Whilethe use of the single rope tightening mechanism has been described, twosimilar rope tightening mechanisms may be mounted on respective bordersof the bearing frame.

The foregoing summarizes the principal features of the invention andsome of its optional aspects. The invention may be further understood bythe description of the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with thedrawings, which now follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which form a part of this specification:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a mechanical cardboard baler with a clamp-typerope tying mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the baler of FIG. 1 showing the bearing frameand compacting platform.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the baler of FIG. 1 showing the winch andflexible linkage extending to the compacting platform.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the baler of FIG. 1, showing the apparatusloaded with loose cardboard before the process of baling, as well as arope extending from a second rope winch which is wrapped around theloose material and held by the clamp.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the baler of FIG. 4 showing the apparatus inthe baling position compressing cardboard into a compacted form, as wellas a rope which has been tightened around the compacted cardboard.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one variant of a new ratchet-based ropetightening means positioned for serving as strapping attachment in acardboard baler according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is an side plan view of the strapping attachment of FIG. 6showing the mechanical cardboard baler loaded with a stack of compressedcardboard, and a length of a rope wound around a stack of cardboard withtwo ends of the rope anchored to anchors within the rope tighteningmeans before the rope is fully tightened.

FIG. 8 is a side plan view of the strapping attachment of FIG. 7 afterthe rope has been tightened.

FIG. 9 is an aerial perspective view of the strapping attachment of FIG.6 showing the moveable rope-engaging anchor and a hook-shape slidingguide moving along a rail that is located on the side of the mechanicalcardboard baler.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the strapping attachment of FIG. 6 mounted onthe frame of a mechanical cardboard baler in accordance with FIG. 1 withthe ratchet handle positioned remotely from the baler frame.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the mechanical cardboard baler of the type ofFIG. 1, showing a strapping attachment as in FIG. 6 with the ratchethandle positioned adjacent to the baler frame.

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the mechanical cardboard baler ofthe type of FIG. 1, showing a strapping attachment as in FIG. 6 with theratchet handle positioned adjacent to the baler frame.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternate variant ratchet-based ropetightening mechanism to that of FIG. 6.

FIG. 14 depicts the rope tightening the mechanism of FIG. 13 with abundle of untied but compacted cardboard in position beneath the ropetightener, before the tightening process has been concluded.

FIG. 15 depicts the rope tightening mechanism of FIG. 14 after the ropetightening process has been effected.

FIG. 16A is a side view of an eccentric cylinder rope anchor prior tothe pinching of rope positioned therein.

FIG. 16B is a side view of an eccentric cylinder rope anchor of FIG. 16Aafter the pinching of rope positioned therein.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the eccentric cylinder rope anchor ofFIG. 16A mounted on a rope tightener rod and provided with a stabilizingpin protruding from the side of the anchor.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional side view of the cylindrical rope anchor ofFIG. 17 with the stabilizing pin extending into a groove formed on sideof the lateral bracing member forming a lateral thinking.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional side view of grooved rope anchor forattaching a knotted rope end, slideably mounted on the ratchet mechanismrod and also provided with a stabilizing pin extending into the grooveformed on side of the lateral bracing member or bearing frame member.

FIG. 20 is a front view of the grooved rope anchor for attaching aknotted rope end, showing the stabilizing pin(s).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With respect to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a mechanical cardboard baler includesa rack frame 10 or “rack” 10, delimited by an inclined rack plane 11 andthree vertical planes on the left, 12; the right, 13; and the rear side,14. These planes may, but do not necessarily, consist of a flat surface;optionally they may instead consist only of the side members such as isevident in FIG. 1 on the right vertical plane 13 that is delimited byside members 17 and 18. Cardboard may be placed between a moveablecompacting platform 26, which may be in the form of a simple frame, anda compacting bearing frame 25, both of which extend generally in aperpendicular direction with respect to the inclined plane 11. Fourwheels 16 may be optionally installed under the base end 70 of the rack10, so that the baler may be easy to displace.

A commercially available hand winch 21 is located at the top of the rack10 at the upper end of the rear side plane 14, serving as a compactingwinch. While a hand winch 21 is shown, an electrically operated winchmay also be substituted. The compacting winch 21 is connected to themoveable compacting platform 26 via a strap 28, so that the platform 26can be drawn upwardly along the inclined plane 11. On loosening thewinch, the platform 26 can slide back down under its own weight. Acompacted baled cardboard is formed when loose cardboard is placed uponthe platform 26 and the compacting winch 21 is used to pull the platform26 upwardly towards the bearing frame 25.

In the cardboard baler embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the rope tighteningmechanism to tighten a rope around a bale of cardboard relies upon arope retracting winch with ratchet gear 31 that turns a rope retractingshaft 32 fitted in two shaft brackets 33. At the each end of the roperetracting shaft 32, a rope retracting roller 36 with a pair of ropelocking pins 39 provides anchor points for attaching rope whichencircles the material being compacted just outside the edges of thecompacting platform and bearing frame.

A rope toggle clamp 35 can be mounted on each outer side of thecompacting bearing frame 25. On one side of the toggle clamp 35 towardsthe rope retracting shaft 32, there may be a rope hook pin 37. On theother side of the toggle clamp 35 away from the rope retracting shaft32, there may be a rope guide 38.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inclined plane 11 is bounded by twoparallel guide members 22 which guide the compacting platform 26 in itsmotion up and down. Pins extend from the compacting platform 26 to restagainst the guide members 22 which may be formed of simple angle ironbut are preferably channels which are U-shaped in cross-section andserve to confine the compacting platform pins.

FIGS. 4 and 5 depict flattened, loose cardboard 40 positioned betweenthe moveable compacting platform 26 and the compacting bearing frame 25.The handle of the winch 21 is turned to retract strap 28 which pulls themoveable platform 26 in an upwards direction. This compresses the loosecardboard 40, thereby forming a tight cardboard bale 50, as depicted inFIG. 5.

To bind the bundle of compacted cardboard 50 using a length of rope 60,an end loop at one end is first made. The end loop may be placed on therope hook pin 37 and the other portion of the rope 60 to be connected tothe rope winch 30 may be wound around the flattened, loose cardboard 40just outboard of the compacting platform and bearing frame as shown inFIG. 4; or the bale of compacted cardboard 50 as in FIG. 5. The rope 60may be placed along the rope guide 38, aligning the rope 60 with therope toggle clamp 35. Then the free end 62 of rope 60 may be wound ontothe rope locking pin 39 and the rope friction pin 39 may be screwed downin order to hold the end of the rope 60 fixed to the rope retractingroller 36.

Now the handle of the rope retracting winch with ratchet gear 31 may beturned, which tightens the rope 60 until the rope reaches an optimum ordesired tightness. The toggle clamp 35 may then be clamped down to holdtight the portion of the rope 60 passing therethrough. With the ropeheld tightly in place around the bundle, the rope locking pin 39 may bereleased and the freed end portion of the rope used to form a knot bytying together the free end of the rope 60 and the end loop on the ropehook pin 37. Tying of this knot is facilitated by the rope 60 being heldtight by the toggle clamp 35. The compacting winch's 21 handle may thenbe turned to release strap 28, lowering the movable compacting frame 26,and allowing the tied compacted cardboard 50 to be removed from thebaler. This completes a preferred working cycle of the baler.

FIGS. 6 through 11 depict a further variant of a rope tightener fortightening a bale of cardboard. With reference to FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, astrapping attachment for a mechanical cardboard baler in accordance withthe present invention comprises a hand-actuated ratchet-like mechanism100 to draw two portions of a rope towards each other, so that the ropemay be tied to secure a bundle that will have been previously compactedby a compaction apparatus. The mechanism 100 includes an extended shaft120 carrying a moveable rope-engaging displaceable anchor 110 and astationary, fixed rope-engaging anchor 111.

A handle 112 mounted in a body carrying a ratchet mechanism is attachedto a side rail 130 which in turn is fastened to the rack frame of abaler. The body for the ratchet mechanism 100 is provided with a bore sothat the mechanism 100 may be threaded onto an extended shaft or rod120. Upon actuation of the ratchet-like mechanism 100, the extended rod120 is pulled through the bore, thereby initiating the rope tighteningeffect.

First 111 and second 110 rope anchors for detachably engaging first andsecond portions of the rope are provided. The first, fixed, rope anchor111 in this variant is carried by the side rail, but positioned in linewith the rod 120 which passes slidingly therethrough. The second,displaceable, rope anchor 110 is carried by the rod 120 to which it isaffixed. A stabilizing plate 131, best shown in FIG. 9, extends betweenthe second displaceable rope anchor 110 and the side rail to keep theparts aligned.

One stationary anchored end 212 of a length of rope 60 is anchored ontothe fixed rope-engaging means 111. The rope 60 is then wound around thebale of compacted cardboard 50, until the free end of the rope 60reaches the displaceable rope-engaging anchor 110. With a displaceablerope portion 213 leading up to the free end anchored at the displaceablerope-engaging anchor 110, the two ends of the rope, 212, 213 mayeventually be tied together using the extending free end.

Initially the rope-engaging anchors 110 and 111 are substantiallyseparated from each other before the ratchet-like mechanism 100 of therope tightening mechanism is actuated. As the ratchet-like mechanism 100is actuated, the engaged rope portions 213 and 212 are drawn close, withthe portion 213 being drawn towards the portion 212 since portion 213 isanchored at the displaceable rope-engaging anchor 110.

Once the rope 60 has been tightened around the bundle to be bound, theextending portion(s) of the rope 60 may be used to tie the two endstogether. Thereafter, the portions of the rope 60 held by therope-engaging means are disengaged from the rope-engaging means. As analternative to using an extension of the rope 60, a separate piece ofrope can be used to tie the closing portions of the rope 60 together.

The ratchet-like mechanism 100 may comprise a wedge plate 104 that, whenit is substantially perpendicular to the extended shaft 120, allows therod to slide; and when the wedge plate 104 is canted at an angle fromthe perpendicular, the mechanism will jam and the wedge plate 104 willengage with the extended rod 120 when an attempt is made to move thewedge plate in a direction that would increase its canting angle. Thisis typically the direction that would cause an increase in theseparation between the rope-engaging means 110 and 111. A brake spring141 may be employed to bias the wedge plate 104 towards a jammingengagement and thereby initiate the jamming effect.

In this type of ratchet mechanism, two first and second wedge platesrespectively mounted on the rod are required. When the handgrip isactuated the first wedge plate engages with the rod and causes the rodto shift with respect to the handgrip and its body. Upon deactivation ofthe handgrip, the second wedge plate resists movement of the rod in thereverse direction.

In FIG. 10 the strapping attachment of FIG. 6 is mounted along thelateral side the bearing frame through the side rail. As depicted theratchet handle is positioned remotely from the baler frame. In FIGS. 11and 12 the ratchet-like mechanism 100 is placed adjacent to of thecompacting frame 25, near the junction of the frame 25 and the inclinedplane 11, on the side plane. As depicted, the ratchet-like mechanism 100is placed on the right plane 13, but the strapping attachment may beequivalently located on the left plane 12. Optionally, strappingattachments may be provided at both locations.

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 depict a rope tightener mounted along the side ofone of the lateral bracing members which, in turn, defines a portion ofthe bearing frame 25. FIG. 14 depicts a bundle of untied but compactedcardboard in position beneath the rope tightener, before the tighteningprocess has been concluded. FIG. 15 depicts the rope tighteningmechanism of FIG. 14 after the rope tightening process has beeneffected.

In FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 alternate rope anchors are depicted. In suchfigures, one of the rope anchors, preferably the moveable rope anchor110, is based on an eccentrically rotating cylinder 220 which can berotated to releasably pinch a portion of the rope 60 against an anvilsurface 221. This action is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 16 and 16B.Both the off-centered axle for rotation of the cylinder 220 and theanvil surface 221 are mounted in a rigid relationship to each other. Inthe case of a displaceable anchor, such anchor is carried on the rod 120to which it is affixed. In the case of a fixed anchor, which is carriedon the rod 120, a pin 250 may be threaded on the rod to ensure that theanchor in question does not move as the rod moves when the ratchet-likemechanism is actuated. This is better described in FIG. 20.

The angle of engagement at the point of pinching between the rotatingcylinder 220 and the anvil surface 221 where the rope portion has beenplaced should be sufficient to temporarily jam the rope portion inplace, but not so severe as to make it difficult to allow disengagement,e.g. by manually rotating the cylinder 220 in the opposite direction torelease the pinched rope portion once tying is completed, or bylaterally pulling the rope 60 out from between the cylinder 220 andanvil surface 221. The surface of the rotating cylinder 220 is alsopreferably textured, e.g., as like the teeth of a file, or by transversegrooves, so as to have a suitably roughened surface that will raise thecoefficient of static friction. This serves to reduce the tendency forthe rope 60 to slip within the clamp while not increasing the difficultyfor manually releasing the pinched rope. The rope 60 is prevented fromcoming loose on its own, since as the tension in the rope increases, thepinching force between the rotating cylinder 220 with a textured surfaceand the anvil surface 221 will increase.

With the rod 120 of the ratchet mechanism 100 positioned along the sidemember of the bearing frame, such bearing member or the side of theprotruding lateral member may be provided with a groove. Thedisplaceable anchor mounted on the rod may then be stabilized byproviding it with a protruding guide pin 222 or guide as shown in FIGS.17 and 18 that slides within the groove 230, constraining the anchoragainst rotation on the rod 120.

FIG. 19 depicts a grooved rope anchor for anchoring a knotted rope end.The slot in this rope anchor is smaller than a knot to be formed in therope and therefore shaped to retain a knotted portion of the rope inplace. This grooved rope anchor, when serving as the fixed rope anchor111 as shown in FIG. 15, is preferably slideably mounted on the rod ofthe ratchet mechanism. This allows such anchor 111 to closely align therope with the cardboard to be bundled. To prevent rotation of thegrooved rope anchor on the rod, a stabilizing pin 223 extends into thegroove 230 formed on side of the lateral bracing member or bearing framemember. However the stabilizing pin 223, as seen in FIG. 19, does notpenetrate through to the rod 120. This is what allows the stationaryrope anchor 111 to remain fixed while the rod 120 is moved whenever theratchet-like mechanism 100 is actuated. A loop may extend beyond suchknotted portion of the rope.

FIG. 20 is a front view of FIG. 19 of the grooved rope anchor foranchoring a knotted rope end. On both sides of the rope anchor 110 arelocated two pins 250 that may help to impede the motion of the groovedrope anchor. In the case of a fixed anchor, which is carried on the rod120, a pin 250 with a bore may be threaded on the rod to ensure that theanchor in question does not move as the rod moves when the ratchet-likemechanism is actuated. Optionally, this can be done with only one suchpin as seen in FIGS. 13 through 15, providing that the pin remaining inplace serves to impede the motion of the fixed anchor as theratchet-like mechanism is actuated. The pin may be then welded orotherwise affixed to the frame in the channel.

CONCLUSION

The foregoing has constituted a description of specific embodimentsshowing how the invention may be applied and put into use. Theseembodiments are only exemplary. The invention in its broadest, and morespecific aspects, is further described and defined in the claims whichnow follow.

These claims, and the language used therein, are to be understood interms of the variants of the invention which have been described. Theyare not to be restricted to such variants, but are to be read ascovering the full scope of the invention as is implicit within theinvention and the disclosure that has been provided herein.

1. A baling device for compacting an amount of material into a bundlecomprising: a) a rack frame having a base end; b) a compacting bearingmember carried by the rack frame; c) a movable compacting platformslideably connected to the rack frame for sliding within the rack frametowards the compacting bearing member; and d) a winch carried by therack frame and connected to the compacting platform through a flexiblelinkage, the winch being positioned to wind the flexible linkage aboutan axle mounted therein in order to move said movable compacting planeupwardly towards the compacting bearing member.
 2. The baling device asin claim 1 comprising an inclined rack plane along which the compactingplatform moves wherein the rack plane is inclined from the vertical,extending upwardly from the front side of the base end of the rack frameand inwardly towards the winch carried within the rack frame and whereinthe rack plane is delimited by a pair of parallel guide members whichcarry the compacting platform.
 3. The baling device as in claim 2wherein the pair of parallel guide members are U-shaped channels incross-section.
 4. The baling device as in claim 2 comprising: a) a pairof upright frame members extending from the bottom of the rack frame toconnect respectively with one of the guide members at a respective upperapex, and b) a pair of lateral bracing members extending respectivelybetween one of the upright frame members and a guide member to supportor serve as at least a portion of the bearing member.
 5. The balingdevice as in claim 1 comprising a rope tightening mechanism coupled tosaid rack frame, the rope tightening mechanism being positioned fordrawing two portions of a rope, enveloping a compacted bundle, towardseach other so that the rope may be tied to secure the bundle.
 6. Thebaling device as in claim 5 wherein said rope tightening mechanismcomprises: a) first and second rope anchors for detachably engagingfirst and second portions of the rope; b) the first, fixed, rope anchorbeing carried by the rack frame or by a ratchet mechanism carried by therack frame in a fixed relationship to the rack frame, and c) the second,displaceable, rope anchor being carried by the ratchet mechanism, theratchet mechanism being positioned for drawing the first and secondanchors, with rope engaged thereto, towards each other.
 7. The balingdevice and rope tightening mechanism as in claim 6 wherein at least oneof the anchors has a slot formed therein shaped to retain a knottedportion of the rope with a loop present beyond such knotted portion ofthe rope.
 8. The baling device and rope tightening mechanism in claim 6wherein at least one of the anchors comprises a rope clamp to engage oneof the portions of the rope, the rope clamp being in the form of aneccentrically mounted cylinder with a rope-engaging cylindrical surfacepositioned adjacent to an anvil whereby a portion of the rope may bepositioned between the cylinder and the anvil and held in place byrotation of the cylinder until the rope is pinched between the cylinderand the anvil.
 9. The baling device and rope tightening mechanism as inclaim 6 wherein the ratchet mechanism comprises: a) a rod having atleast one anchor affixed thereto, and wherein the rope tighteningmechanism is mounted adjacent to and outboard of the side of the bearingmember so as to align the rod across the outer surface of the materialto be compacted.
 10. The baling device and rope tightening mechanism asin claim 9 wherein the ratchet mechanism comprises: a) first and secondwedge plates each mounted on the rod, each wedge plate being dimensionedfor sliding engagement along the rod when oriented in a plane extendingoutwardly in a perpendicular direction to the length of the rod, andbeing dimensioned for jamming engagement with the rod when therespective wedge plate is canted at an angle from such perpendiculardirection and an attempt is made to move such wedge plate with respectto the rod in a direction that will increase its canting angle, and b) ahandgrip coupled to the rod and connected to effect engagement with therod through the first wedge plate whereby, upon activation of thehandgrip, the rod is advanced with respect to the handgrip and, upondeactivation of the handgrip, the second wedge plate resists movement ofthe rod in the reverse direction.
 11. The baling device and ropetightening mechanism as in claim 9 wherein the side of the bearingmember along which the rope tightening mechanism is mounted is providedwith a groove and the anchor mounted on the rod includes a protrudingguide that slides within the groove, stabilizing the anchor againstrotation on the rod.
 12. The baling device and rope tightening mechanismas in claim 11 wherein the anchor carried on the rod is the anchor whichcomprises a rope clamp in the form of an eccentrically mounted cylinderwith a rope-engaging cylindrical surface positioned adjacent to an anvilwhereby a portion of the rope may be positioned between the cylinder andthe anvil and held in place by rotation of the cylinder until the ropeis pinched between the cylinder and the anvil.
 13. The baling device andrope tightening mechanism as in claim 12 wherein the other anchor has aslot formed therein shaped to retain a knotted portion of the rope witha loop present beyond such knotted portion of the rope.
 14. The balingdevice and rope tightening mechanism as in claim 13 wherein the otheranchor with a slot formed therein is supported in place by the rackframe at a location on or adjacent to such rod.